Customs Seize Pangolin Scales & Claws With N1.7Bn Duty Value

CHUKA UBAH

The Comptroller-General Strike Force Unit, Zone A, Ikeja-Lagos, of the Nigerian Customs Service has made another two seizures of pangolin scales and claws with Duty Paid Value worth over One Billion,Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N1.7 billion).

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, the National Spokesperson for the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Joseph Attah, disclosed that the seizures were made in two phases with two suspects arrested.

“Even though this criminality is not essentially a Nigerian thing, sadly some foreigners with active connivance of few Nigerians are bent on using our dear country as a transit route for illegal wild life trade.”

“You will recall that the Nigerian Customs Service, acting on credible intelligence provided by our international partners, announced wild life seizure with arrested suspects currently facing prosecution.”

“In the course of further investigation to arrest other members of the gang, we received another credible intelligence from same international partner, Wild Life Justice Commission, and swiftly deployed our intelligence operatives with the Strike Force as a SWOT team, led by South-West Zonal Coordinator, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Ahmadu Shuaibu.”

“They intercepted of One (1) Mercedes Benz Bus with registration number BGT 256 LG along Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun lkeja, Lagos,” he said.